Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-12

al cost OF untold treasure. The times and instl-
tations OF the Government Demanded high type
Humanity speaking, President Garnsid was
morally, mentally, and physically perfect man:
and, II In his nature he had faults. they only
served 10 demonstrate his predominailns good
qualities.
he was born November Ia. 1891. and died Sep
Almost hfJy years. taken from the middle part
OF TINS eVentful century, were covered by his
How sir-ularly momentous were these years
when contemplated In the light or this nations
material growth, and the worlds Advancement
Discoveries OF science, profundIty OF learning.
progr - In government, Inventions explorations,
growth In Civilization, and In moral and mental
all marked the period covered Born 70 no high
title, he WAS trammeled by no expectancy.
neids. lie had no superiority thrust upon him,
save such as Is Incident 20 the sovereignty Of tree
DOM and hence he had the glory Of personals
achieving everything for himself.
HIS BIRTBRiGHr WAS FREEDOM
and right loyalty he clung 10 IL TO the end.
He was born OF parents, who gave 20 him the
heritage OF a sound body, a sound brain together
with zeal ana energy TO use both. and a iaudable
spirit 10 be distinguished among the good and IL
| lustrious through true merit
He had also the supreme advantage OF being
reared bya pious mother In The seclusion aud
quiet OF the country free from the enfe,bhng con-
ditions OF city life. The frequent solitude OF the
country boy compels him 10 think, and N OF fair
natural aptitude, 10 become an independent and
accurate thinker.
He grew 10 manhood In far from ariuent circum.
stances acquiring habits OF Industry and economy,
1 with their wants and needs. Thus his early eN-
perience made him wise and strong In ase soca-
| lions OF aiuer-life.
General Garfield early developed a natural In
| clination for learning and investigation
| The physical labor performed by him in early
life crystalzed him into perfect physical man
| hood.
His head was cast in large mold, Ike Daneil
webster's, with a breadth OF brow and a weighs
| resembling Michael
| In the transition from humble birth TO the high
est position In lie, he stngulary exemphied his
| own beautiful description or the ineSIimaole ad-
yantages OF our institutions:
sour society," said he, ensembles rather the
| waves OF the ocean, whose every drop may move
freely among It's biilows. and may rise toward the
light sDul IL flashes on the Crest OF the aighesI
wave"
AS teacher OF the young his clearness OF com.
prehension and logical reasoning, his eathuslasTu
| In pursuit OF knowledge, together with his woD-
derfui descriptive powers, Insured his success.
| These qualities characterized him through life
and when called on 10 Instruct convince and way
| the mulUtudes In turbulent times, or 10 control
| legislative bodies On momentous occasions, he wai
| master OF the situation
He did not refuse TO ascend the pulpit, aad as q
| devout follower OF his Divine Master BECOME a
| preacher OF our holy religion.
Had he not matured at tine when a great
crisis was Imminent In our government and es-
| peclally had not the great moral problem growing
out or human slavery been ripe for solution by
legislation and war, there is good reason TO be-
lieve that Garfield would have contented himself
with permanently devoJing his lie 70 education,
literature or the pulpit.
In letter TO a friend at the opening OF the war
Garfield gives the state or his mind While he was
being metamorphosed from citizen into soldier:
| Il have, he says, 'had curious interest In
watching the process Ia my own mind by which
the fabric OF my mind is belngdemoshed and recon-
structed 10 meet the new condition or effairs one
by one my old plans and aims, modes or thought
| and feeling, are found 10 be Inconsistent with
present duty and are set aside 10 give place 70 the
new structure OF military lie. IL i not without "A
regret almost fearful at times that look upon
M as Of 40 hrulp an
plans and shattered individual lives OF thousands
OF American citizens, We can see, on the ruins OF
our national errors a new ana enduring fabric
arise based on larger freedom and higher Justice,
II will be small sacrifice indeed. For myself
am coutented with such prospect, and regarding
my lie as given 10 The country, am only anxious
| gage upon IL is ioreclosed-"
| He promptly took stand among the anti-slavery
men, This led him into politics early In life IuI-
medately preceding the war lStj0 and lSj1) he
held seat in the Ohio senate and there gave eyi-
dence OF his future greatness as a statesman
| When the torch or treason lighted up this land
the voice OF the statesman was drowned amid the
| tumult OF war.
| Concession and compromise had been tried in
vain 10 perpetuate the Union and at the saline time
preserve wrong against God aud humanity. Sew
| enty years OF constitutional government had more
than suficed 10 prove the impossibiiity OF living,
under one rule, half slave and half free.
Slavery, In Efforts TO foster ITSELF was necessa-
| rly aggressive. Wrong always Is aggressive, and
so long as IL dominates, 1t must even, In sense.
be progressive.
The Timd OF the North and South stood aghasa
over the prospect OF
DISSOLVED UNION;
the thoughtless brave precipitated the crisis; the
thoughtful lovers OF liberty and country, mled
With faith In Gods immutable Justice, paused,
then passed at once from peaceful citizens "a
warriors.
General Garfield, with no military education or
training, with thoughts and aspirations tiIitherto
directed 10 natural science and the arts OF peace,
now found himself impelled by zeal for his coun-
trys safety 10 take up the science ana art OF war.
He was commissioned colonel OF the 421 Ohio
| Volunteer Infantry, 10 rank from August 14th,
| 1S61- His regiment was not completely mus
tered into service until November 27, 1861.
Twenty days after, In midwinter, II was moving
TO active service.
on the 2Oth OF December 1861, he assumed
command OF brigade and entered upon cam.
paign in Eastern Kentucky against General
| Humphrey Marshal, an officer or experience In
more than one war, who held a position, with
5000 men, on the Big Sandy River With the
skill and celerity OF a veteran OF many campaigns,
Colonel Garfield hurled his small, uncr1lled COM
Ion n,s ems passing oveT BAD road
the Sth and 10th OF January, lS61, al Paintyiile
and Prestonburg, respectively, attacked and de-
feated the enemy, and thus within twenty days
after his command was organized, closed q CAM
paign or much immediate Importance: the first OF
q series or brilliant triumphs that carried our
arms TO the Cumberland and the Tennessee. For
this he was commissioned by the President Briga-
dier General OF Volunteers 10 rank from January
10, 1862.
This incident in the military life OF General Gar
field demonstrates his soldlerly qualities and
| SHOWS his ready adaptation 10 great emergencies,
| and illustrates the faculty with which the free
citizen may be transformed into good soldier.
| War, Notwithstanding Its barbar1c sceIes has
always brought out the better, stronger and
| higher characteristics and talents In man.
The higher the types OF civilization q country
can boast, the more readily IL can adapt itself TO
| q state OF war. IL not renowned a leader OF
great and successful army, General Garfield was
citizen soldier superior To his opportunities In q
| supreme emergency.
| He was transferred from the scenes OF his first
| military triumph In March, 1serl, 10 the main
army OF the Ohio, and participated In the second
| days battle at Shiloh.
He took part In the eventful campaigns In the
| spring and summer OF 1stfl, and performed that
| year much military service. In January, 1864
| becoming chief or stan TO General RoSecrans at
| MurfreeSborO, Tennessee, he at once became
charged with military duties upon more extended
| scale. In this capacity he served through all the
campaigns or that army Till October 1854
"For distinguished and gallant services In the
battle OF Chickamauga," he was, by President Lin
coin, made Major-General, 10 rank from Septem-
| Der l9, 1863
He resigned this commission December s,
1858, TO enter upon the duties OF Representative
| the 3Sth Congress, TO which he had been elected
| In 1862
From Gen Garfield himself have this Incident:
Regretting his election 10 Congress- and the conse-
quent necessity OF Withdrawing from the Army
he went IN person to President Lincoln and so In
| formed him, and expressed TO the President his
purpose not to resign his maJor-general's commits
sion, and asked TO be again assigned 10 duty In the
AS1h ha